Can Amaryllis grow outdoors in zone 7B (Charlotte, NC) ?

We may be moving within the next 12 months, so I thought I would ask a question to the people in the area.

We will be moving to South Carolina, right at the border to North Carolina by Charlotte, NC.

Do you have any experience growing Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) outdoors in that area ?
Is it possible to overwinter outdoors without bringing inside ?

I know the literature states zone 8-10, but this areas should be 7b.

Any experience ?

Thanks
Kenneth

Kenneth,
I'm in NC in Zone 6b and have had Amaryllis in the garden for years, just have to mulch heavy in the winter and remove the mulch in the spring.

I second that from zone 7a.
Their leaves even take a little frost. Plant deep, just protect the bulb itself from a solid freeze.
Kenton

Kenneth, I third it!

7b or 8a in Texas: I've got a lot of them out there. I plant up to their necks, the foliage freezes then returns with blooms in later March early April. They are all protecte by other plants like azaleas. Go for it!

I used to grow them in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area as well (Zone 7b/8a) and had success just mulching them heavily. I used the same method I've been told works for other bulb type plants... wait until after the foilage dies back to actually CUT it back. Something about it feeding the bulb until then or something.

you can overwinter amaryllis in Colorado? Woo I want to see those. I couldn't do that here in MA as the ground freezes too deeply for them. They can stay outside all summer, but they have to come in now.
Martha
My sister in Greenville, NC puts them in the ground but I don't know if she keeps them there all winter. I will ask.
M.

(There is a lot that can be overwintered in CO, my dear. I just saw Amorphophallus, Ficus, Musa, and Cedrus in Denver, and most suprising- the North African native Delosperma nubigenum up at 8000 feet at the Betty Ford Apline Gardens in Vail, CO. Then realize it is much milder in my valley than those places)
My amaryllis aren't much to look at but a few leaves now, I'm afraid. Young plants.
K

Here's the word from Greenville, NC. My sister has planted amaryllis in her garden beds after receiving them as gifts and what not for years. They stay in the ground as it doesn't freeze there, she says. They are covered with a pine needle mulch all winter mainly because she says it looks good and that's where her pine tree drops the needles. I looked at the zone map but it is too small to make out much detail. She seems to be on the border of 7b to 8a. Probably closer to 8a. charlotte area is 7b and somewhat higher in elevation. Greenville is about 2 hours east of Raleigh/Durham.
Hope this helps you out.
Martha

Hippeastrum xjohnsonii, xAckermanii, and many others are notably hardy and that includes 7b. Some of the other large-flowered hybrids are noted for being hardier than others. Among these is 'Apple Blossom'.

As others have said, if you plant deep and mulch, most (?) large-flowered hybrids and leopoldii hybrids will over-winter with no problem. I have seen one that looks like 'Red Lion' , along with other hybrids, come back year after year in 7b.

I live about 25 mi. west of Charlotte and know some folks who plant Hippis in the ground and have them return every year. Two of them are helped out by living in a "housing development" kind of neighborhood, with lots of landscaping, asphalt streets, trees etc. that contribute to a warmish microclimate that of course helps with survival.

I think if you can plant them in a naturally dry area (one that does not collect runnoff, etc.) having them survive the winter in 7b is to be expected. Dry and cold works, wet and cold spells trouble.............

I live out of any metro area, but nevertheless, the ground is rarely frozen very deeply and then not for very long. If you get your bulbs set in spring so that they have all season to become established, most modern hybrids and some species will perennialize for you in the Charlotte area.

Robert.

I inherited about 20 of them--red-not sure of variety, planted on a gentle slope in a bed against the brick base of the house. Appear to be growing in straight clay, and mulched only by whatever leaves fall in the area (I don't rake there). Totally ignored, and bloomed their heads off this year! I am in zone 7b, closer to the coast (Raleigh), but very similar climate to where you will be.